Keith Weiner, founder and CEO of Monetary Metals, shares his outlook for gold and silver in 2026, saying that while he expects higher prices there will be volatility.
He also outlines his thoughts on the role of precious metals in the monetary system.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
More than three decades after diamonds transformed Canada’s Northwest Territories (NWT) into a global mining powerhouse, the industry that once defined the region’s modern economy is facing a painful reckoning.
While governments and investors have spent the past several years focused on critical minerals and battery metals, the NWT’s diamond mines are grappling with falling prices, lab-grown competition, tariff disruptions and mounting financial strain.
With one major mine set to close within weeks and others under pressure, leaders across the North are asking a seemingly once unthinkable question: what comes after diamonds?
The modern diamond era in the NWT began in November 1991, when geologists Chuck Fipke and Stewart Blusson discovered 81 small diamonds at Lac de Gras. The find triggered the largest diamond staking rush in North American history and led to the development of the EKATI Diamond Mine, Canada’s first.
By 2004, more than 28 million hectares across the NWT and Nunavut had been staked. Canada rose to become the world’s third-largest diamond producer by value, behind Botswana and Russia, largely on the strength of the NWT’s output.
For decades, the sector generated thousands of high-paying jobs and helped build Indigenous-owned businesses across the territory. At its peak, more than 3,000 Indigenous workers were employed at the region’s three diamond mines.
Today, that foundation is starting to show cracks.
Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) Diavik mine, one of the pillars of the industry, is scheduled to close next month.
Although the company recently unveiled a rare 158.2-carat yellow diamond from the site last year, described by COO Matt Breen as a “miracle of nature,” the symbolic discovery cannot reverse the mine’s finite life.
In addition, De Beers ( a subsidiary of Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:NGLOY)) and Mountain Province Diamonds’ (TSX: MPVD,OTC:MPVD) Gahcho Kué mine has paused a project that would have extended operations from 2027 to 2030, raising concerns about its longevity.
Meanwhile, EKATI, owned by Australia’s Burgundy Diamond Mines (ASX:BDM), is battling financial distress after diamond prices fell at least 20 percent following its acquisition of the asset.
In the legislature this week, Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong warned of the consequences.
“The closure of Diavik and Gahcho Kué will have a significant impact on Tłı̨chǫ communities and today, the GNWT has no meaningful alternative,” she said.
Premier R.J. Simpson acknowledged the challenge. “We’re at a point now where we know the diamond mines are winding down, and the question has been: ‘OK, well, what’s next?’” he said in a recent interview.
The industry’s struggles are not simply a matter of geology. Natural diamond prices have been under sustained pressure, battered by several macroeconomic forces converging at once.
For instance, lab-grown diamonds—chemically identical to natural stones and available at a fraction of the price—have rapidly gained acceptance among consumers. What was once a niche product is now mainstream, particularly among younger buyers drawn to lower costs.
Canadian diamonds long marketed themselves as ethical alternatives to so-called “blood diamonds.” But synthetic stones can make similar claims, weakening one of the natural industry’s key selling points.
Luxury spending has also softened, and new trade barriers have added further strain. A 50 percent US tariff on Indian imports has disrupted the global polishing pipeline, since most rough diamonds are cut and finished in India before being sold into the US market.
The owner of EKATI has linked its financial difficulties in part to those tariffs, as well as to the broader collapse in natural diamond prices. The company recently received a C$115 million federal loan under a facility designed to assist businesses affected by US trade disruptions.
Even so, EKATI suspended parts of its operations last year and has faced criticism from workers over layoffs and severance payments. Burgundy has publicly acknowledged serious financial problems and indicated it may need additional funding if prices fail to recover.
At Gahcho Kué, Mountain Province Diamonds is navigating its own funding challenges. Acting president and CEO Jonathan Comerford said the company’s difficulties reflect “the prolonged weakness in the diamond sector.”
“In this environment, our focus remains on carefully managing costs, protecting liquidity, and making measured decisions to support the long-term sustainability of our operations,” Comerford said.
The company has received in-kind funding notices from joint-venture partner De Beers totalling approximately C$49.2 million related to unpaid cash calls.
Territorial leaders are also under growing pressure to respond.
Minister of Industry Caitlin Cleveland described the Gahcho Kué announcement as “serious news for the Northwest Territories.”
“Prices are weak, costs are high, and companies are having to make difficult calls,” Cleveland said in a recent statement. She emphasized that while the GNWT cannot control global markets, it will work to ensure worker supports are accessible and employers meet labour standards if job impacts occur.
But some structural issues are harder to address. Yellowknife North MLA Shauna Morgan questioned how the government can enforce socio-economic commitments made by mining companies when they established operations.
Simpson conceded that those agreements lack enforcement clauses such as fines.
“This is about building relationships and ensuring that we’re staying on top of this,” he said.
Meanwhile, calls for diversification are growing louder. “This announcement also reinforces a broader reality for our territory: our economic base remains too dependent on a single commodity,” Cleveland said.
There are hopes that critical minerals could help fill the gap. Exploration for rare earths and other strategic metals is increasing, reflecting global demand tied to electrification and defense technologies.
Weyallon Armstrong has argued that infrastructure, including expanded road connections from the Tłı̨chǫ region, could unlock new development corridors.
“We may not have a Ring of Fire, but we could have a frosty circle,” she said, referencing Ontario’s mineral-rich region.
Yet even optimistic observers acknowledge that no single project is likely to replicate the scale and stability diamonds once provided. For community leaders, the uncertainty is deeply personal.
“It’s kind of a scary situation,” Chief Fred Sangris of the Yellowknife Ndilo community of the Dene First Nation told the New York Times last year. “Where do we go from here? What’s the next project?”
Diamonds have long symbolized permanence. In the Northwest Territories, especially this Valentine’s season where icons of everlasting love dominate the market, that symbolism now feels more strained than ever.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (February 13) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$66,633.60, down 1.1 percent over the last 24 hours.
Bitcoin price performance, February 13, 2026.
Chart via TradingView
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$1,956.57, down by 0.7 percent over the last 24 hours.
Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) reported a fourth-quarter net loss of US$667 million as falling crypto prices weighed on revenue and the value of its investment portfolio.
Revenue came in at US$1.78 billion, below analyst expectations, and marked a 22 percent decline from a year earlier.
The company attributed much of the loss to a US$718 million drop in portfolio value, largely unrealized, alongside weaker transaction activity. Shares slid ahead of the release and have fallen more than 55 percent over the past six months as crypto markets retreated.
Despite the surprise slide, CEO Brian Armstrong sought to reassure investors, saying the firm remains “deliberately well capitalized” with US$11.3 billion in cash and equivalents.
He added that retail customers are largely holding rather than selling, even as volatility persists.
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw US$410 million in outflows Thursday, extending a rocky stretch that has drained nearly US$1.5 billion over two weeks.
BlackRock’s (NYSE:BLK) IBIT led the pullback, followed by Fidelity and Grayscale products, as institutional investors recalibrated positions amid macro uncertainty.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Congress to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act this spring, arguing it would provide stability to markets rattled by volatility.
Speaking on CNBC and later before the Senate Banking Committee, Bessent said the bill would give “great comfort to the market” and warned that parts of the crypto industry are resisting what he called “very good regulation.”
“There seems to be a nihilist group in the industry who prefers no regulation over this very good regulation,” he told lawmakers, drawing support from Senator Mark Warner.
The legislation has stalled amid disputes over stablecoin yield, DeFi oversight, and token classifications, with critics including Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong raising objections. Bessent cautioned that a bipartisan coalition backing the bill could fracture if Democrats retake the House in November.
Warner, meanwhile, stressed unresolved concerns around illicit finance and national security risks tied to decentralized finance.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
A.I.S. Resources Limited (TSXV: AIS,OTC:AISSF, OTC-Pink: AISSF) (‘AIS’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce it has received TSXV Exchange acceptance for the September 15, 2025 earn-in agreement with Riversgold Ltd. (ASX: RGL) (‘Riversgold’), granting AIS the right to acquire up to a 75% interest in the new Saint John IOCGPorphyry Project located in New Brunswick, Canada (the ‘St. John Project’).
AIS CEO, Marc Enright-Morin commented, ‘Now that we have received Exchange acceptance we are excited to move forward with this unique opportunity to advance a possible IOCG/porphyry system.’
Additional Information Regarding Transaction Terms:
About the Saint John Project:
The Saint John Project is a district-scale IOCG/porphyry exploration target providing strategic exposure to gold and silver (precious metals), copper (energy transition metal), and antimony (critical mineral).
The project covers 101 km² in a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction. Located just 20 km west of Saint John, New Brunswick and 50 km from the U.S. border, the project benefits from exceptional infrastructure, including highways, rail, deep-water port, power stations, and a skilled local workforce.
Riversgold have released multiple press releases on the Australian Stock Exchange over the past year as they have moved this project up the value chain. Geological results were previously disclosed by Riversgold in press releases on ASX dated January 29, 2025 and April 9, 2025. Refer to www.riversgold.com.au
Geological Highlights:
Little Lepreau Prospect
Prince of Wales Prospect
Hideaway Prospect
Next Steps:
Figure 1 – Saint John Project (Source of Map: Riversgold press release on ASX dated April 9, 2025)
Figure 2 – Prince of Wales roadside cutting with exposed mineralization (Source of Map: Riversgold press release on ASX dated January 29, 2025)
Figure 3 – Little Lepreau Roadside Quarry Prospect (Inset 1) – Sample Grades (Source of Map: Riversgold press release on ASX dated April 9, 2025)
Figure 4 – Hideaway Prospect (Inset 2) – Sample Grades (Source of Map: Riversgold press release on ASX April 9, 2025)
Figure 5 – Price of Wales Prospect (Inset 3) – Sample Grades (Source of Map: Riversgold press release on ASX dated April 9, 2025)
Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Edward Mead, who is a Qualified Person under the definitions established by the National Instrument 43-101 and who is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Mead is a director of Riversgold Ltd and a consultant to Riversgold through Doraleda Pty.
About A.I.S. Resources Limited
A.I.S. Resources Limited is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The company focuses on natural resource opportunities, aiming to unlock value by acquiring early-stage projects and providing the necessary technical and financial support to develop them. AIS is guided by a seasoned team of engineers, geologists and finance professionals with a proven record of success in capital markets.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
A.I.S. Resources Limited
Marc Enright-Morin, CEO
Corporate Contact
For further information, please contact:
Marc Enright-Morin, CEO
T: +1-778-892-5455
E: marc@aisresources.com
Website: www.aisresources.com
ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/48c338b6-6f73-48a5-a481-5c10a5fc204d
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42629e14-de90-407c-aaca-9a1d8bb711f1
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3215ca6f-1838-437b-8fc9-f03cc7ae622b
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c568ef5c-ded4-4acf-bdb0-c4d777a80641
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e3caeb97-33be-4ab5-ae3f-52889b7c81b1
News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia
Panther Metals Plc (LSE: PALM), the exploration company focused on mineral projects in Canada, is pleased to announce that it has filed a preliminary non-offering prospectus (the ‘Prospectus’) with the Ontario Securities Commission (the ‘Commission’) and has applied to the Canadian Securities Exchange (the ‘CSE’) for a secondary listing of its ordinary shares on the CSE in Canada (the ‘Listing’). The Company’s ordinary shares will continue to be listed on the official list of the UK Financial Conduct Authority and traded on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange plc.
Final acceptance of the Prospectus and the Listing are subject to the review and approval of the Commission and the CSE, respectively. The Prospectus contains important information relating to the Company and its currently issued shares capital and is subject to amendment as may be required by the Commission. The Prospectus will be available for review under Panther’s profile on the Canadian System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (‘SEDAR+’) at www.sedarplus.ca.
The Company believes that the Listing will enable the Company to provide liquidity to its existing shareholders and offer the opportunity to raise additional capital to build out its business and execute its business plans through exposure to a range of new investors on one of the premier public markets for the mining sector. The Company can give no assurances that the Listing will be successful or that, if it is successful, that any significant market for its securities will develop. The Listing will be subject to the Company fulfilling all of the CSE’s listing requirements and the Company being receipted for a final prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in the Province of Ontario.
There can be no guarantee that a receipt for the final prospectus will be obtained from the Commission or that the CSE will accept the Listing.
The Company also announces that it has prepared, in accordance with the provisions of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, a technical report dated 12 January 2026 (the ‘Technical Report’) in respect of the Obonga Project located in the Obonga Lake Area in Ontario, Canada (the ‘Property’). The Technical Report is titled ‘NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Obonga Project, Obonga Lake Area, Thunder Bay Mining Division, Ontario, Canada‘ and was prepared by Neil Pettigrew, M.Sc., P.Geo. of Fladgate Exploration Consulting Corporation. A copy of the Technical Report will be available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ and a link is available on the Company’s website at https://panthermetals.com/investors/presentation
This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Directors.
For further information, please contact:
|
Panther Metals PLC: Darren Hazelwood, Chief Executive Officer: |
+44 (0)1462 429 743 +44 (0)7971 957 685 |
Cautionary Notes Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding the Listing, the receipt for the preliminary and final non-offering prospectus from the OSC, and statements relating to the exploration of the Property are forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. The Company has made certain assumptions about the forward-looking information, including the ability to receive a final receipt for its Prospectus and its ability to obtain the Listing on the CSE and timing of these events, the benefits to be derived from being a public company, that the Listing application will be successful, or that if it is successful, that any significant market for its securities will develop. Although the Company’s management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate.
Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, the possibility that planned exploration programs will be delayed, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, activities of the Company may be adversely impacted by the current economic conditions, including the ability of the Company to secure additional financing, the possibility that future development of Company’s products and services results will not be consistent with the Company’s expectations, changes to regulations affecting the Company’s activities, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required approvals, and the other risks disclosed under the heading ‘Risk Factors’ in the Prospectus.
Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is provided and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
Source
Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (February 13) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$66,633.60, down 1.1 percent over the last 24 hours.
Bitcoin price performance, February 13, 2026.
Chart via TradingView
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$1,956.57, down by 0.7 percent over the last 24 hours.
Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) reported a fourth-quarter net loss of US$667 million as falling crypto prices weighed on revenue and the value of its investment portfolio.
Revenue came in at US$1.78 billion, below analyst expectations, and marked a 22 percent decline from a year earlier.
The company attributed much of the loss to a US$718 million drop in portfolio value, largely unrealized, alongside weaker transaction activity. Shares slid ahead of the release and have fallen more than 55 percent over the past six months as crypto markets retreated.
Despite the surprise slide, CEO Brian Armstrong sought to reassure investors, saying the firm remains “deliberately well capitalized” with US$11.3 billion in cash and equivalents.
He added that retail customers are largely holding rather than selling, even as volatility persists.
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw US$410 million in outflows Thursday, extending a rocky stretch that has drained nearly US$1.5 billion over two weeks.
BlackRock’s (NYSE:BLK) IBIT led the pullback, followed by Fidelity and Grayscale products, as institutional investors recalibrated positions amid macro uncertainty.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Congress to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act this spring, arguing it would provide stability to markets rattled by volatility.
Speaking on CNBC and later before the Senate Banking Committee, Bessent said the bill would give “great comfort to the market” and warned that parts of the crypto industry are resisting what he called “very good regulation.”
“There seems to be a nihilist group in the industry who prefers no regulation over this very good regulation,” he told lawmakers, drawing support from Senator Mark Warner.
The legislation has stalled amid disputes over stablecoin yield, DeFi oversight, and token classifications, with critics including Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong raising objections. Bessent cautioned that a bipartisan coalition backing the bill could fracture if Democrats retake the House in November.
Warner, meanwhile, stressed unresolved concerns around illicit finance and national security risks tied to decentralized finance.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Albemarle (NYSE:ALB) is raising its long-term lithium demand outlook after a breakout year for stationary energy storage, underscoring a shift in the battery materials market that is no longer driven solely by electric vehicles.
The US-based lithium major reported fourth quarter 2025 net sales of US$1.4 billion, up 16 percent year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA rising 7 percent to US$269 million.
For the full year, Albemarle delivered US$5.1 billion in revenue and US$1.1 billion in adjusted EBITDA, results that CEO Kent Masters said were supported by “strong growth in energy storage and significant cost and productivity improvements.”
But the most consequential update came in the company’s demand outlook.
“We are seeing a diversification of lithium end markets, with stationary storage becoming an increasingly significant demand driver,” Masters told investors during a February 12 conference call, adding that Albemarle has increased its 2030 global lithium demand forecast by 10 percent to a range of 2.8 million to 3.6 million metric tons.
Global lithium demand reached 1.6 million metric tons in 2025, up more than 30 percent year-over-year and in line with Albemarle’s prior projections. Demand growth outpaced supply, tightening inventories and lifting prices into year-end.
For 2026, Albemarle now expects global lithium demand to rise to between 1.8 million and 2.2 million metric tons — growth of 15 to 40 percent — driven by both EV adoption and accelerating deployments of stationary energy storage systems (ESS).
While global EV sales climbed 21 percent in 2025, energy storage was the standout. ESS demand surged more than 80 percent year-over-year, with strong growth across China, North America and Europe.
China, which accounted for roughly 40 percent of ESS shipments, saw demand rise 60 percent. North American shipments jumped 90 percent, reflecting grid stability needs and rising electricity consumption linked to data centers and artificial intelligence. European shipments more than doubled as countries expanded renewables and sought greater energy security.
Demand outside the three major regions grew 120 percent and represented more than 20 percent of global ESS shipments, with Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Australia emerging as key growth markets.
The shift is already visible in Albemarle’s financials. In 2025, energy storage volumes reached 235,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent, up 14 percent year-over-year and above the high end of the company’s guidance range.
Fourth quarter energy storage net sales rose 23 percent from a year earlier, while segment EBITDA climbed 25 percent, supported by higher lithium pricing and cost improvements.
CFO Neal Sheorey said Albemarle’s updated 2026 scenarios reflect both pricing and operational gains.
After weathering a sharp downturn in lithium prices over the past two years, Albemarle has focused on strengthening its balance sheet and lowering its cost base.
In 2025, the company delivered approximately US$450 million in run-rate cost and productivity improvements and is targeting an additional US$100 million to US$150 million in 2026.
Albemarle also announced it will idle operations at its Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant in Western Australia, citing a structural cost gap between Western and Chinese conversion assets.
“There is a gap there between China and the West,” Masters said, pointing to higher labor, power and waste management costs in Australia. Idling the plant is expected to improve adjusted EBITDA beginning in the second quarter, with no impact on sales volumes.
At the same time, Albemarle is streamlining non-core assets.
The company closed the sale of its stake in the Eurocat joint venture in January and expects to complete the sale of a majority stake in its refining catalysts business in the first quarter. Together, the transactions are expected to generate approximately US$660 million in pre-tax proceeds.
“We are committed to maintaining our investment-grade credit profile,” Masters said, adding that deleveraging and disciplined capital allocation remain priorities.
Despite pulling back on large-scale capital spending, Albemarle expects to deliver a five-year compound annual growth rate of roughly 15 percent in energy storage sales volumes, building on a 25 percent CAGR over the past four years.
Incremental expansions at the Greenbushes mine in Australia, yield improvements at the Salar de Atacama in Chile and higher utilization at the Wodgina joint venture are expected to support growth with minimal additional capital.
Looking ahead, Masters said the company is better positioned to navigate lithium’s still-maturing cycle.
“We’ve been through two cycles since the advent of EVs,” he said, describing the market as early in its development from a commodity perspective.
With stationary storage now emerging as a second structural demand pillar alongside EVs, Albemarle’s revised outlook suggests the lithium market’s next phase will be shaped as much by grid resilience and energy security as by transportation electrification — broadening the base of demand for years to come.
Lithium prices have surged since the start of 2026, underscoring the market’s renewed volatility.
According to Fastmarkets, spot battery-grade lithium carbonate on the seaborne market climbed from about US$11 per kilogram in early December to more than US$16 per kilogram by early January, a jump of nearly 50 percent in a matter of weeks.
The rally has been driven by tightening supply, including delays to the reopening of CATL’s (SZSE:300750,HKEX:3750) Jianxiawo lepidolite mine and maintenance at other production facilities, alongside aggressive restocking tied to long-term contract negotiations.
Speculative buying has amplified the move, with bullish sentiment and geopolitical risk adding to momentum. At the same time, thin spot liquidity reflects a cautious market, as buyers and sellers hesitate to commit amid rapid price swings.
Spodumene prices have followed suit, rising above US$2,000 per metric ton in January, levels not seen since October 2023. The rebound has improved margins for Australian producers, many of whom curtailed output when prices fell below US$900 per metric ton. Sustained pricing at current levels could prompt a wave of mine restarts, potentially easing supply tightness later this year.
Still, Fastmarkets cautioned that prices may be running ahead of fundamentals.
“Lithium prices appear to have moved ahead of the fundamentals, propelled by speculative buying, bullish sentiment and a backdrop of heightened geopolitical risk,” wrote Paul Lusty. “The key takeaway is to brace for more volatility.”
Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
TSX-V: WLR
Frankfurt: 6YL
Walker Lane Resources Ltd. (TSXV: WLR,OTC:CMCXF) (Frankfurt: 6YL) (the ‘Company’) announces that the Company continues to work diligently toward the completion and filing of the Company’s annual audited financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 (the ‘Required Filings’). The Company is actively working on various strategies that they expect will resolve the preparation of the Required Filings as quickly as possible.
The Required Filings are due to be filed by March 30, 2025. In connection with the anticipated delays in making the Required Filings, the Company made an application for a Management Cease Trade Order (‘MCTO‘) under NP 12-203 to the BC Securities Commission, as principal regulator for the Company, and the MCTO was issued on January 29, 2026. The MCTO restricts all trading by the Company’s CEO and CFO in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect. The MCTO does not affect the ability of persons who are not directors, officers or insiders of the Company to trade their securities. The MCTO will remain in effect until the Required Filings are filed or until it is revoked or varied.
The Company expects to proceed with the filing of its interim first-quarter financial statements shortly after the Required Filings have been completed and submitted.
The Company confirms that it intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines described in NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of a news release until it meets the Required Filings requirement. The Company has not taken any steps towards any insolvency proceeding and the Company has no material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed.
About Walker Lane Resources Ltd.
Walker Lane Resources Ltd. is a growth-stage exploration company focused on the exploration of high-grade gold, silver and polymetallic deposits in the Walker Lane Gold Trend District in Nevada and the Rancheria Silver District in Yukon/B.C. and other property assets in Yukon. The Company intends to initiate an aggressive exploration program to advance its projects through drilling programs with the aim of achieving resource definition in the near future.
For more information, please consult the Company’s filings, available at www.sedarplus.ca.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kevin Brewer
President, CEO and Director
Walker Lane Resources Ltd.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains certain statements that constitute ‘forward looking information under Canadian securities laws (‘forward-looking statements’). The use of words such as ‘anticipates’, ‘expected’, ‘projected’, ‘pursuing’, ‘plans’ and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the application for the MCTO and the completion of the Required Filings and the timing thereof. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Walker Lane Resources Ltd
View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2026/13/c0056.html
News Provided by Canada Newswire via QuoteMedia
Rua Gold INC. (TSXV: RUA,OTC:NZAUF) (OTCQB: NZAUF) (‘Rua Gold’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that the Company will be uplisting to the Toronto Stock Exchange (the ‘TSX’). The common shares of the Company (the ‘Common Shares’) will be voluntarily delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange effective as of close of market on Friday, February 13, 2026, and will commence trading on the TSX effective at the opening of the market on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 under its current ticker symbol, ‘RUA’.
Robert Eckford, CEO of Rua Gold, commented: ‘Graduating to the TSX is a significant milestone for Rua Gold. The uplisting will enhance our visibility in the capital markets and enable us to continue to attract key institutional and retail investors as we continue to develop the Reefton Project and Glamorgan Project in New Zealand.’
Rua Gold will continue to remain a ‘reporting issuer’ under applicable Canadian securities laws, and the Common Shares will also remain listed on the OTCQB under the symbol ‘NZAUF’. Shareholders are not required to take any action in connection with the TSX uplisting.
About Rua Gold
Rua Gold is an exploration company, strategically focused on New Zealand. With decades of expertise, their team has successfully taken major discoveries into producing world-class mines across multiple continents. The team is focused on maximizing the asset potential of Rua Gold’s two highly prospective high-grade gold projects.
The Company controls the Reefton Gold District as the dominant landholder in the Reefton Goldfield on New Zealand’s South Island with over 120,000 hectares of tenements, in a district that historically produced over 2Moz of gold grading between 9 and 50g/t.
The Company’s Glamorgan Project solidifies Rua Gold’s position as a leading high-grade gold explorer on New Zealand’s North Island. This highly prospective project is located within the North Islands’ Hauraki district, a region that has produced an impressive 15Moz of gold and 60Moz of silver. Glamorgan is adjacent to OceanaGold Corporation’s biggest gold mining project, Wharekirauponga.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Robert Eckford
Phone: (604) 655-7354
Email: reckford@ruagold.com
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur and specifically include statements regarding: the Company’s strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions including but not limited to exploration programs at its New Zealand properties; the intended listing date on the TSX and the delisting date on the TSX Venture Exchange. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.
Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; risks related to the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war; risks related to climate change; operational risks in exploration, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration projects or capital expenditures; the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changes in labour costs and other costs and expenses or equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, including but not limited to environmental hazards, flooding or unfavorable operating conditions and losses, insurrection or war, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing, and commodity prices. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company’s documents filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors.
Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/283786
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Copper Quest Exploration Inc. (CSE: CQX,OTC:IMIMF; OTCQB: IMIMF; FRA: 3MX) (‘Copper Quest’ or the ‘Company’) announces that it has entered into a securities for debt settlement agreement dated February 11, 2026 (the ‘Agreement’) with a professional advisor of the Company.
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company has agreed to settle debt in the amount of $113,405.28 through the issuance of 872,348 units (each, a ‘Unit‘) at a deemed price of $0.13 per Unit, whereby each Unit shall be comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a ‘Share‘) and one (1) Share purchase warrant (each whole, being a ‘Warrant‘). Each Warrant will be convertible into an additional Share (a ‘Warrant Share‘) at an exercise price of $0.165 per Warrant Share and will expire on the date that is two (2) years following the date of issuance (the ‘Expiry Date‘). The Expiry Date shall be subject to acceleration should the closing price of the Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (or any such other stock exchange in Canada as the Shares may trade at the applicable time) equal or exceed $0.50 for ten (10) consecutive trading days at any time from the date which is 4 months following their date of issue, the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants such that the Warrants shall expire on the date which is 30 calendar days following the date a news release is issued by the Company announcing the accelerated expiry date of the Warrants.
The Agreement and the issuance of the securities thereunder are subject to the approval of the CSE. The securities will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day pursuant to CSE policies and applicable securities laws.
About Copper Quest
The company’s land holdings comprise 7 projects that span over 45,000 hectares in great mining jurisdictions of Canada and the USA. Copper Quest is committed to building shareholder value through acquisitions, discovery-driven exploration, and responsible development of its North American critical mineral portfolio of assets. The Company’s common shares are principally listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘CQX’. For more information on Copper Quest, please visit the Company’s website at www.copper.quest.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the past-producing Alpine Gold Mine located approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the City of Nelson British Columbia, spanning 4,611.49 hectares with a 2018 National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects historical inferred resource of 268,000 tonnes, estimated using a cut-off grade of 5.0 g/t Au and an average grade of 16.52 g/t Au, that represents an inferred resource of 142,000 oz of gold (McCuaig & Giroux, 2018)*. Apart from the Alpine Mine itself the property hosts 4 other less explored significant vein systems including the past-producing King Solomon vein workings, the Black Prince and the Cold Blow veins system, and the Gold Crown vein system. *The Company has not yet completed sufficient work to verify the 2018 historic inferred resource results.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the road accessible Stars Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum Property, spanning 9,693 hectares in central British Columbia’s Bulkley Porphyry Belt with Tana Zone discovery drill intersection highlights of 0.466% Cu over 195.07m* in drill hole DD18SS004 from 23.47m, 0.200% Cu over 396.67m* in drill hole DD18SS010 from 29.37m, and 0.205% Cu over 207.27m* in drill hole DD18SS015 from 163.98m. This highly prospective, approximately 5 X 2.5 kilometer annular magnetic anomaly is interpreted to represent an altered monzonite intrusion and surrounding hornfels.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the road accessible Kitimat Copper-Gold Property, spanning 2,954 hectares within the Skeena Mining Division of northwestern British Columbia located northwest of the deep-water port community of Kitimat, British Columbia. The property benefits from exceptional infrastructure, being within 10 km of tidewater, 1.5 km of rail, and 6 km of high-voltage hydroelectric transmission lines. Exploration on the Kitimat property dates to the late 1960s, with the most significant historical work conducted by Decade Resources Ltd. (2010), which completed 16 diamond drill holes totaling 4,437.5 meters in the Jeannette Cu-Au Zone, and drill intersection highlights of 1.03 g/t Au, 0.54% Cu over 117.07 m in Hole J-7 from 1.52 m, 1.00 g/t Au, 0.55% Cu over 103.65m in Hole J-1 from 9.15 m, 0.80 g/t Au, 0.45% Cu over 107.01m in Hole J-2 from 6.10 m, and 0.41 g/t Au, 0.33% Cu over 112.20m in Hole J-8 from 11.89 m.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Nekash Copper-Gold Project, a porphyry exploration opportunity located in Lemhi County, Idaho, USA, along the prolific Idaho-Montana porphyry copper belt that hosts world-class systems such as Butte and CUMO. The project is fully road-accessible via maintained U.S. highways and forest service roads and consists of 70 unpatented federal lode claims covering 585 hectares.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the road accessible Stellar Property, spanning 5,389-hectares in British Columbia’s Bulkley Porphyry Belt contiguous to the Stars Property.
Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Thane Project located in the Quesnel Terrane of Northern British Columbia spanning over 20,658 hectares with 10 priority targets identified demonstrating significant copper and precious metal mineralization potential.
Copper Quest has an earn-in option of up to 80% and joint-venture agreement on the road accessible Rip Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum Project, spanning 4,700-hectares located in the Bulkley Porphyry Belt in central British Columbia.
On behalf of the Board of Copper Quest Exploration Inc.
Brian Thurston, P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Tel: 778-949-1829
For further information contact:
Investor Relations
info@copper.quest
https://x.com/CSECQX
https://ca.linkedin.com/company/copper-quest
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains certain ‘forward-looking information’ and ‘forward-looking statements’ (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements‘) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, future operations and activities of Copper Quest, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘potential’, ‘possible’, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘could’, or ‘should’ occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration results, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company’s exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company’s business and prospects. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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